Poor Little Lost Souls

For the last few years we have been coaching first graders from Philadelphia's Sheppard School, located in our poorest ZIP code. These are kids that hardly have homes, let alone parents that read to them, or support the idea that learning matters. Aside from their teachers, we are, in many cases, the only people that tell them that reading is important.
So much for blaming the teachers and the schools.
Sometimes we make a lot of progress, sometimes we don't, but it is always good to try.
Here is Luis, my kid, diagnosed last month as autistic, who speaks a language all his own. He can read some, does numbers well, and loves his watch and can tell time with it-

Connie has three girls, who are doing pretty well, at least some of the time-

These are the kids our state's politicians have left behind, hoping they will just go away. They won't, I hope.

Winery Exploration - From Eagles Mere PA, the "Avalon of the Poconos"

Our third winery exploration took us far up into the endless mountains of the Keystone State. For those that do not know much about our state's wine history, William Penn planted the first vineyards in North America in the 1600s. By 1900 every one of our sixty seven counties produced wines of various types. Just so you know.
So off we went heading for Eagles Mere, in remote Sullivan County. This is a real summer place, completely deserted between winter hunting seasons and Memorial Day. Lots of real classy big houses, deserted until the summer, just like Avalon. Stayed at the Crestmont Inn, a small remainder of a once grand fancy joint that was demolished to make way for crappy condos in the 80s. A fine restaurant and no Spotted Ancelins.
Started our winery checks with a place called Eagle Rock Winery in PaPorte, county seat of Sullivan County. These folks grow no grapes since "you can't grow grapes around here". Some of their wines are sold in cheap plastic bottles; nice store with wine chochkies. Proprietor may be a relocated New Yorker. She was quite wrong about not being able to grow grapes however. Decent reds, sweets.
Next was Winterland Winery, in Lopez, once known as "Sawdust City" from all the now defunct lumber mills. An eclectic place that buys local grapes from the area and from Erie PA. Some nice whites, cute store.

Winterland Winery in the "Sawdust City"

Next my favorite of all, perhaps the quirkiest of any we've seen. In Lopez PA, the Lopez Winery. Strewn and cluttered with all manner of memorabilia that some would call junk. Looks like the owner, an extremely happy man, serves as much in full glasses as sampling sips, and some locals may mistake it for a bar. Also features, from time to time, free deer stew. Eight types of grapes on 1100 vines planted in 2000. Decent reds and whites.

Real cozy Lopez Winery Tasting (?) Room that seems like a bar

Best ever winery freebie

At Laddsburg Mountain Winery (three vineyards) in Dushore PA one is welcome to write a note on the floor. And lots of taxidermy samples on the wall. Decent whites, reds I think need some work.
Last wine stop was Grovedale Winery and Brewery, in new facility on the east bank of the mighty Susquehanna. Family has been there for 8 generations, and does a nice job making reds (best on this tour), whites, and next door some pretty nice beers.
And then home, after a short hike to some of the 20 odd waterfalls at Rickett's Glen State Park, a fine place for outdoorsy types.

"Its Like You Are My Uncle"

For the past few years we have had lots of fun hosting Fulbright Scholars who gather in the City of Brotherly Love in the Spring. Usually we get four, from all over the world, and they are always bright, modern and engaging. We pick them up downtown, haul them to Germantown on the train and give them dinner, which they always enjoy. And leave little in the way of leftovers.
So this year we had Fernand Franco from Columbia, who fell in love with electrical engineering; Merve Durak from Turkey, an Operations Research lady, Qushay Malinto, from Indonesia, learning more about reproductive technology and who has yet to see his new daughter since he had to leave his wife at the hospital to make his flight to the US; and Iva Kosmos from Slovenia, studying literature and cultural studies.
After dinner we took them to the Art Museum so Fernand could get a good picture of our fair city, and they all jogged up the steps just like Rocky did in the movie.
We are always amazed how similar educated smart young people are, and how much they connect with their families. We have much to learn from them.

Fulbrighters at the Philadelphia Museum of Art